Exclusive India Travel » Religious Tours » Indian Sadhu's Tour

Indian Sadhu's Tour

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Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi


Day 01: Arrival Delhi
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel where a welcome ceremony awaits you. Girls dressed in traditional Indian attire anoint your forehead with 'a red tikka' followed by ceremonial garlanding.
Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-- a book which narrates the history of India. The city was built and destroyed seven times and has been witness to the various events which has brought India through the history books. Seven times this city went through the pain of being built and rebuilt.
Today as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast embark on a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi including the Red fort and the Jama masjid, post lunch tour of New Delhi to include Qutab Minar, India Gate, Humayun's tomb and the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur
Morning drive to jaipur, the fabled 'pink city' of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharajah of Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur by lunch and check inn to your hotel. After Lunch and some rest visit the City Palace, the royal residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur and later visit the Observatory dating back to the 18th century and also visit the Palace of winds (Hawa Mahal). Evening enjoy your dinner with cultural Rajasthani folk dance programme. Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the ' Pink City ' because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on a dry lake bed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted by forts and crenellated walls. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and a feast for the eyes. All through, Jaipur has retained its strong Rajputana flavour tempered by several influences - the mughal being the most prominent. The region's strong cultural heritage is distinctly evident even today. The city is a visitor's delight. From the intricate, delicate looking Hawa Mahal to the graphic forms of the Jantar Mantar - an open air observatory of outsized astronomical instruments, the Badi Chaupar lined with shopsand business establishments on both sides to the majestic fort-palace at Amber; from the colorful fountains of life to the sublime Birla Temple; from the architectural delight of the City Palace to the serene Jal Mahal.

Day 4 : Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort. Continue city sightseeing. Relax in the evening. Overnight at Jaipur.

Day 5 : Jaipur - Agra
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Agra. Visit Fatehpur Sikri en-route. Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Agra. Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World -the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra was their capital for nearly a hundred years from 1564. A pleasant town, with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are hereditary craft persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery and leather shoes.

Day 6 : Agra
After Breakfast we will drive to Taj Ganges parking place. From there we will take the battery operated Bus to World famous Taj Mahal. Overnight will be at Agra.

Taj Mahal
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum took 22 years to complete with a work force of 20,000 craftsmen and master builders, who came from all over Asia to join in this great work from Baghdad, Shiraz, Delhi, Samarkand and Turkey. The marble, India s finest; was quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious stones were imported from distant lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrysolite from Egypt, Amethyst from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 : Agra - Khajuraho
Breakfast would be at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Khajuraho. Reach and transfer to hotel. Overnight will be at Khajuraho. Khajuraho, once the great Chandela capital, is today a village of about a few thousand people in the interiors of central India, in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Tradition records the existence of eighty five temples, of which only twenty five, strewn amidst lakes and fields, have survived. The temples at Khajuraho, brilliant examples of medieval Indian architecture, were built under later Chandela kings between AD 950 and AD 1050. Each ancient structure in India has a fascinating story to tell. But few match the temples of Khajuraho.

Day 8 : Khajuraho
Proceed for a guided tour of the famous temples of Khajuraho. Overnight will be at Khajuraho.

Day 9 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Transfer to the airport for flight to Varanasi On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon city sightseeing tour. Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities in the world, believed to be founded 3000 years ago, is one of the 7 holiest cities of Hindus. It was a flourishing trading centre 500 BC when the Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his first sermon. A city of great wealth and religious importance when the Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang, visited it in the 7th century. Visit the Vishwanath Golden Temple, the abode of great God Shiva, Bharat Mata Temple, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University. The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.

Day 10 : Varanasi
Morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. Return for breakfast to the hotel. Proceed for day guided tour of Varanasi including the Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu University. Overnight at Varanasi.

Day 11 : Varanasi - Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of SARNATH. Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and you will be transferred to hotel. Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 12 : Delhi
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer to airport in time for flight home with sweet memories of India.